NEED TO KNOW
Score: Navy 27, Life University 10

MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University men's rugby team battled Navy on Saturday at Lupo Family Field, but the Midshipmen used a pair of second-half tries and a late penalty goal to secure a 27-10 victory.

The Running Eagles opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Jonny Lee converted a penalty goal to give the Running Eagles a 3-0 advantage. Navy answered with a try from Aidan Gerber in the 17th minute, followed by a Kade Williams conversion to take a 7-3 lead. The Midshipmen added another try from Andrew Baublitz in the 25th minute, with Williams converting to extend the advantage to 14-3.

Navy carried its 11-point lead into the second half and added to it in the 43rd minute with a try from Maximus Buono, pushing the score to 19-3. Life continued to battle and found the try line in the 59th minute when Shaun Matthysen crossed for a score. Lee converted one minute later to cut the deficit to 19-10.

The Running Eagles had an opportunity to cut into the deficit just before Navy responded in the 65th minute, but were unable to capitalize. The Midshipmen extended their lead to 24-10 on a try by Waylon Davis before Williams added a penalty goal in the 75th minute to secure the 27-10 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Life scored one try, one successful conversion and one penalty goal for 10 points.
• Jonty Lee accounted for five points with a penalty goal and a conversion.
• Shaun Matthysen scored Life's try in the 59th minute.
• Navy recorded four tries from Aidan Gerber, Andrew Baublitz, Maximus Buono and Waylon Davis.
• Kade Williams contributed through successful conversions and a penalty goal for Navy.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• Lee opened the scoring with a penalty goal and converted Matthysen's second-half try.
• Matthysen provided Life's lone try in the 59th minute.
• The Running Eagles continued to compete in the second half, but Navy's two tries and a penalty goal after halftime secured the win for the Midshipmen.